Graeme McDougall wins Scottish Young Pros Championship

Fife-based Graeme McDougall is the new Scottish Young Professionals' champion after overcoming two double-bogeys in the closing round to claim the title at West Lothian.

McDougall, who is one of Gavin Cook's trainee professionals at the Golf House Club in Elie, started the final day sitting two shots off the lead, held by Bathgate's Chris Curran.

After a third-round 68, he'd moved into second, one behind Thomas Higson of Gleneagles Hotel as Curran's challange came unstuck.

McDougall, who played his amateur golf at Bishopbriggs, swept into the lead after picking up three birdies in the first seven holes in the final round.

He then ran up 6s at both the ninth and 13th before crucially repairing part of that damage with birdies at the 14th.

A closing 70 saw him finish with an eight-under-par 276 total, winning by a shot from Higson (72) and Pumpherston's James Steven (68).

"This was my third and last appearance in the event, so I'm absolutely delighted," said 28-year-old McDougall. "It's my first win as a professional and tops the county stuff I won as an amateur.

"I had to be patient after taking those two double-bogeys and produced some key short-game shots before making a couple of late birdies. My putting was solid all week. I was holing out well."

McDougall's success on the golf course came after he finished second to his fellow Golf House Club Elie trainee, Michael Bradfield, in the awards for the best year two professional on the PGA's degree programme.

"It is great that we are both doing well academically and I've now had some success on the golf front and I'm sure the members will be pleased about that," added McDougall.

Higson, bidding to follow up his win in a Young Pros' Order of Merit Sprint Series event at Duddingston. had birdies at the fourth and 12th in the final round before closing with five pars.

Steven, meanwhile, started for home birdie-birdie in final round before dropping a shot at the 14th but then made birdies at the 16th and 17th.

On a day when Curran slipped to 13th after closing with rounds of 76 and 78, former European Tour player Steven O'Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd) finished fourth on four-under.